CNN

I agree with Obama, family issues are off limits.

I will say however that I take issue with conservatives being so high and mighty on these issues, both in general and in this campaign. I don't know how many times we need to see members of the Republican party make mistakes before they start to understand that they're human beings too. Unfortunately they don't seem to get it; examples: when the Republican Congressmen from Florida got caught hitting on pages in the capital, instead of acknowledging this problem Denny Hastert and the Republicans said he had a drinking problem and whisked him off to rehab. When Larry Craig was caught toe-tapping in men's room, they tried to retire him. This type of behavior is hypocritical and that's my problem with it.

You know this is why people hate the news media. What does this have to do with the election of this person? This is exactly what started the PUMA movement, the biased and unfair coverage of family issues. Why don't you ask Michelle Obama about her many statements during the primaries?

This is private issue and has no business in the news. The news media is just throwing dirt. Once again, watch the SNL skit and learn from it. YOU ARE NOT THE MOST TRUSTED NEWS SOURCE WHEN YOU TRY TO CREATE THE NEWS INSTEAD OF REPORTING THE NEWS. STAY OUT OF PRIVATE ISSUES!!!! As a grandmother, mother, and wife, I find your coverage of this issue crossing the line and this shows YELLOW journalism is alive and well.

Why if McCain knew about this last week why did they wait until today when the hurricane was making landfall to announce. I think this is very weak on the McCain campaign. Is this the typical friday news dump on monday of national crisis. How very sad. If this is such a private family matter why not keep it private and why announce the daughters name. I know the press would have found out but let them uncover her name on their own don't give up the girls name. I don't think the news channel knew this or I think it would have come out over the weekend. This was an obvious dump during a crisis. This sounds like a typical George McBush tactic. Good Job McCain!!

We really need to cease and desist with this frenzy. No matter if you are Republican or Democrat, the Palins deserve your respect for their privacy. Don't give the Republicans more ammunition to criticize Obama.

So, generally speaking, teen pregnancy is an issue public enough to legislate, public enough to devote *public* funds to address it. When it happens in a Republican candidate's family, however, privacy is in order and it's a purely internal family situation and only the business of that family?

Please. McCain was caught off guard by this just like everyone else. This is an example of poor judgement. Not a good maverick move.

As a life long democrat, I applaud Obama's statement. However, ANYTHING found on the Huffington post is at least suspect – so I don't pay too much attention to it.

We should stick to the real issues between the parties. I must admit, I am a bit worried though about the "experience" factor. Both Obama and Palin are lacking in real world experience and either will have to learn on the job. The question could become: Does America want it to be the Pres or VP ?

YIKES – that's a tough one to field......

What does James Dobson and "Focus on The Family" have to say about his VP pick that he forced John McCain to select!?!? HYPOCRITS!!

What I question is Governor Palin's judgment. Normally, this would be a private family matter. However, since the Governor is running for a public office, it immediately becomes a public matter – fairly or unfairly. It calls into question her parenting skills and her judgment.

For years social conservatives have been blaming the decline of the family unit on working moms, but now they are falling all over themselves to embrace this "soccer mom" as if she was the second coming. Talk about hypocritical!

I will never understand a parent who puts their ambitions before the well being of their child.

This is a reply to OFFWALLST,

This has nothing to do with Obama, his campaign has nothing to do with it.... just like Rev. Wright's summons the media went looking into her background and then discouvered what is there.... don't blame the Obama campaign for this.... John Mcain did not do his job it was his responsibility to select her and should have done the work before selecting her. This is the judgement that the american people are selecting.... IRAN is going to be another Iraq if jOHN MCAIN GETS INTO THIS OFFICE.... good luck all the american people need is the rest of the globe hating you

Where is the JUDGMENT from the BBQ media made maverick? what a joke, he just met the poor lady once, this is not the prom its the most powerful office in the world, now we have a reality show on our hands, McCain had more than 4 months to vet her when the Democrats were still in the primaries, God help America if McCain gets into office

i'll be voting for obama,now.

What else will Palin hide, would you trust her as Veep? McCain has stumbled badly.

Sarah Palin should focus on her family. This is not the time for her to run for VP of anything She has a downs syndrome child and a teenage pregnant daughter. I'd love to see her devote her attention to them and not the rigorous schedule of a campaign and the media scrutiny of a campaign. Having children demands sacrifice. This is a time she should remember that. If she is as spiritual as she says, she will remember that her first ministry is to her family. She should never have accepted McCain's offer knowing everything she has going on in her life and he (the true idiot) should never have offered it and used her in this way. Many women will resent him for thinking only of his own political aspirations. I am a McCain supporter but I will not vote to put this woman near the white house with all the issues she has going on. He should get a new vp now before it's too late. Sarah Palin could nicely decline at this time and say she doesn't want her children to be demoralized in the media which would free McCain to make an appropriate choice for vp. Yes, he might take a small hit but in time he and Romney on Pawlenty get things back on track.

I hated Palin's political positions- not the pro-life thing- but everything else. I thought that would prevent my voting for her.

But then the haters working for Obama got involved with their petty insults and derision and mocking and demeaning scorn.

Now that the attacks on her are on, i am finding myself liking HER and disliking her democratic detractors.

She stands for what she believes. Who cares what Her husband did in his twenties? Or that her daughter made a mistake despite her Mother's best efforts at proper education and values?

At least Palin set the good example- better than if she aborted a child whenever it was inconvenient to her plans for herself.

You NEW democrats have things all twisted up in an irrational knot. This makes Palin MORE desirable- not less. She is not hiding her human frailties.

McCain HAS now become the man of change. Obama- and his supporters are about OLD hatreds, divisions, partisan antipathy, sexist insults, name-calling derision.

McCain is the bigger man.

I guess she has done a heck of a job at educating her daugther abstinence only...The media should their job at vetting this woman and exposing Mccain incompetency for the presidency. John Mccain got his first and major decision wrong!!! He has said several times that he'd pick somebody that can competently do the presidency job in case something happens but, instead, he picked an unequivocally unqualified woman just for political expediency. A woman , he has only met once before. We should ask ourselves this critical question: are we willing to elect a 73 year old guy as president and a 44 year old woman with zero experience at all as vice president in a time when our nation is facing several of her biggest challenges ever ? when we have two fronts opened, Iran with a few years away from aquiring nuclear weapons and Russians are stepping up itheir military might against our allies.
America,
We are about to choose the next world leader, the world is watching us. Eight years ago we made the wrong decision as a consequence thousands of americans dead in an unnecessary war and our economy in shamble. Think twice.

How can there NOT be a media storm when an "Ultra Conservative, Focus on The Family" GOP VP candidate's 17-year daughter gets pregnant and presumably pressured to marry in order to saves mom's family-values image?!?!

How is VP Palin going to travel to other countries and perform her duties with a baby with special needs and an unwed teenage pregnant daughter?

I ask this in defense of her children who need their Mom around.

The hits just keep on coming. I can't wait for the next installment of this soap opera. Good pick McCain.

It's not about the daughter being pregnant that I don't think that Palin should be VP. She is not the first daughter to get pregnant and won't be the last daughter to get pregnant.

There is no telling how much more things that we don't know about Palin that are bound to come out. Like the fact that she originally was for the bridge going to nowhere, she or her husband may have made a call to have her sisters husband fired, she was over the the 527 for Stevens and who knows what else.

Did McCain's people think when he said he needed the VP candidates vetted that he meant take their pets to the doggie doctor or something?

Obviously they blew the vetting process totally. Palin should just bow out now and let McCain pick a new running mate. She is going to continue to be a huge liability to him as long as she's on the ticket.

And let's be honest, a mother of a 4-5 month old Downs syndrome baby needs to be with her baby- not out running around 24/7 on the campaign trail. I'm as big a women's libber as there could ever be, but this woman needs to take care of her personal responsibilities first & foremost.

Looks like the holier than thou Republicans will loose this election all on their own. Let's hope Obama continues on the high road and lets them do it.

Obama/Biden 08

GOP tries to turn Americas attention on a Category 2 hurricane and away from the obvious problems within the current and future republican government. The people in control do not want to lose control period. Even if it will continue to drag our country down.

Even CNN is also involved, Why can't I get a live stream of the RNC?
Why is your news so biased? Why is Glen Beck such a hypocrite and a liar?

she need to remove herself as a candidate.

YEA, RIGHTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!

This all is not looking good. I should think the McCain inner circle is taking a hard look at Condi Rice after graciously moving Gov. Palin to the side. Rice has been vetted, and has been under the microscope for years. Has real foreign policy and big gov experience, is highly educated, has dine an pretty good job by most accounts, and is little tarnished by the shortcomings of the current administration. Choosing Dr. Rice would have gone after the heart of Barack Obama's 'count on' voters... and may very well win the white house for the Republicans... as unbelievable as that may seem to well informed liberals. Time to act John, or the party can kiss this one goodbye.

So much for a religious candidate, I think teaching sex-ed would of somewhat help what you think?

Let me see all of those Republicans especial on the other network try to spin this one.

To CNN: enough already. The news has been delivered and the daughter is not running for office. Please leave her alone.

Obama/Biden '08

I've read the various rumors and innuendo eminating from the sewers that are the DailyKos and Huffington Post regarding this incident.

What it shows is how incorrect these Leninists are with regard to facts. If they are so incorrect about something like this, then the question begs, "How much are they incorrect about everything else?" Take you pick; the Iraq War and its genesis; the so-called scandals of the Bush Adminstration that never emerged; Valerie Plame, and the list goes on and on.

I see Obama has said that Palin's family is off-limits. On its face, it appears an admirable gesture. But as Mr. Fowler has already shown the American people, a Democrat's feeling only lasts as long as the election cycle.

Mr. Obama, as you well know, you couldn't control your own convention. What makes you think you can control the rabid, Leninist media that pumps out their garbage to the useful idiots who think you are so pretty?

You are out of your league, sir. Totally.

If her daughter is so in love and so religious then why wait until she's 5 months pregnant to get married? Could it be the upcoming election...
I think both McCain and Palin are panderers – and both straight out of the McCarthy era.

Have some decency America.

Seriously? Are you kidding people with this article? Do you think it matters one iota whether this lady's husband has gotten a DWI before? Does the reflect on her character to the extent of Obama's attendance of an anti-American church for FIFTEEN YEARS without so much as a word of opposition or protest (not to mention his very close relationship with the treasonous Wright)? I don't think so. More importantly, most Americans don't think so. It could not be more obvious to most Americans that CNN is simply trying to tare down the Republican party and get Obama elected using any means possible. If this means using petty, ineffectual means, such as pointing to TRAFFIC MISDEMEANORS of the SPOUSES of VICE PRESIDENT NOMINEES, then under CNN's perspect so be it.

Just like Obama said, family should be off limits. Still, many Americans don't feel the same way and will hold it against Palin that her 17 year old is pregnant and her husband had a DWI 25 years ago. It shouldn't matter but unfortunately it does. I think it again brings both McCain and Palin's judgement into question for this oversight

SARAH – - YOU BROUGHT THIS ON YOUR OWN HEAD, AND NOW YOUR DAUGHTER MAY SUFFER.

* * * * Excuse me, but Sarah brought this matter on herself and her daughter when she knowingly accepted McCain's VP offer!! 17-year Bristol did not know her mother would put her pregnancy across the world stage!!

I wonder whether she thinks teaching safe sex is important now?

Pregnant teenage daughter... husband has DWI... kid with down's syndrome....

this is more of a typical american family than any other... nothing wrong with this... anyone bashing this has no soul...

sen obama wife and children have never been off limits, on the blogs people have said awful things about the obama children and wife now you feel that what go's around dont come around?

McCain did not know she was pregant. If I was running and found out after it was too late I would say I already knew also. Theres a lot more about Palin out there Im just wating for CNN to report it. I found a lot about her in a hour of surfing the web, ensring to cross check facts i found out.

Looks like the abstinence-only education in schools wasn't the answer for her family. SHould be in a position to make moral judegements for the rest of America? Yes, these things should remain within each family, so each family should have thier own choice of options.

My parents had me when they were 17 and they were ill-equiped financially, and emotionally to care for me. This woman tries to come across as June Cleaver, but she should have had the sense to teach her kids about birth control! Do we really want someone like this making decisions for all US kids??

All of you out there thinking how shamful, the 17 yo pregnant daughter. Obviously you don't have teenage children. So if you haven't been down that road yet then you should shut your mouth, you just may someday have to put your foot in it.

You people are repulsive. You are so unhinged by John McCain's VP choice, that you don't know what else to do but go after her family. Leave her daughter alone. Shame on you all. You are despicable and creepy.

I am a republican, life-long for that matter.
I am deeply embarrased by the way McCain made this VP choice.
A woman he met once for 15 minutes at a govenors meeting just before offering her the VP slot. A woman he now calls his partner and soulmate. This is getting weirder by the day, reminds me of Bush and Putin. McCain I an a woman and cannot vote for you.
Your behavior is reckless and your judgement in doubt. I will have to vote for the Democrat this year I wache both of them on 60 minutes last sunday and I liked what I saw and heard.

Interesting she wants privacy.

I keep reading form right wingers how this is great that shes showing support and how this is something the average family goes through ect ect.

Last I checked a 17 year old getting pregnant is not great and if she didn't support her daughter what would it have said about what kind of mother she was?

All this does is exploit this pick for being what it was a political ploy for the sake of being a political ploy.

Its not Sara Palin's fault its McCain for saying we'll fall in love once we hear her story well I hope it gets better because right now its reading more like a tragedy.

I do feel very sorry for the girl. Many of us became parents at 18 but our mothers were not more interested in a n political career. Hopefully all will go well for the girl and she will end happy with her choices. It does leave the judgement issue with big questions but this young woman should not have to be an open book while trying to get thru what is facing her.

This is not relevant.

What IS relevant is the rolling list of revelations of Palin's abuse of the office – both as mayor and governor. It points to a pattern of opportunism, vindictiveness, small-world politics.

I don't think this says anything about the family or it's values.

BUT I do think Palin is getting ready to pull out of the VP spot!

Obama says they are off limits but he will get the liberal rags and his hatchet men to do his work

OBAMA=SOCIALISM

The Truth comes out.Did the repugs really think we wouldnt come out swinging this election?We learned how to fight dirty from Carl Rove.Revenge is sweet.

BUT THERE'S STILL "TROOPER-GATE". . .PALIN WILL HAVE TO TESTIFY UNDER-OATH---AND, THE TAPED EVIDENCE OF HER INVOLVEMENT!

McCain aides insist the Arizona Republican already knew about the pregnancy prior to that conversation, having found out earlier during the lengthy vetting process.

*******

How long was this process?

From my understanding, they only met once.

Well, now the Palin's understand what the Obamas with through. Welcome to the race for the White House. I wish the Palin's family well.

If you want your 17 year old child's privacy respected, why would you make an official statement about her, or better yet, accept the nomination in the first place? You knowingly just put her under the glaring lights.

The democrats better not touch this. Stay away from this. Don't even mention Palin's name.

Let's hope she is never called upon to run the country when she can not even control her own daughter.

More "Family Values" GOP style!

You mean the vetting process where Palin wasn't even seriously considered until a week ago?

Either McCain made a hasty, dangerous decision (like the kind he'll make for our country) by picking Palin without properly vetting her, or he's using her for political expediency as a woman and a mother. Either way, America loses by picking McCain.

Mono vs. Pregnant?
Is this more proof that Republicans don't believe in Science?
Maybe she should go see a Doctor, instead of a Astrologist...

So can you tell me if he knew this before picking her what that says about his judgment? I am telling you McCain you just shot yourselves in the foot what was you thinking?

I don't think this is the time for Palin's or her family to be running for the second most important job in our country. The timing is completly off for her and her family. She really should be trying to raise her infant son and aiding her daughter through this tough time. I understand that teens have sex and mistakes are made, however the normalcy of their situation is voided now that her mother is running for VP. I pray for her daughter and her family.................... McCain should have really done his research and made a better choice for his running partner.

well, if thats a normal family should all 17 yr old girls get pregnant get real. ive never been to alaska my city of Tampa fl. (almost)has more residents then her state of alaska.i hope she doesnt pull the privacy card cause when your in a political race there is not such thing as that.this is what happens when you only meet someone one time and get them to be your running mate.

If you want privacy don't run for vice-president, better yet don't go into politics. Palin needs to put all her energy in properly taking care of her family before over stepping her bounds in quest for becoming the nations VP. Family first, right!!!

How nice this young woman will keep this baby.
Obama would consider this a "punishment" – that's what he told us!

Don't Go There obama – you don't come from the "Brady Bunch"
yourself!

BABYGATE

1 – First “I-didn’t-know-Obama-was-going-to-take-me-serious-and-go-to-Iraq-gate”
2 – Then "I-change-my-mind-on-timetable-gate"
3 – Then "ParisHilton-gate",
4 – Then "Ask-my-staff-how-many-homes-I-have-gate"
5 – Next, “Take-inexperience-off-the-table-gate"
6 – Then "Alaska-trooper-gate"
7 – And now "baby-gate"

I am warming up to this woman.

I may vote gender for the first time- EVER.

I voted for HRC on merit and issues and experience. i got kicked in the butt for it. Others voted on RACE and got rewarded for it.

I may just vote gender this time around. Palin's strength and fortitude and courage remind me of Hillary- even though I disagree with Palin's politics, I am LOVING the politician herself.

Now I am GLAD to defect.

complete lies!!!.......is america really this stupid to even CONSIDER these people for the oval office??? judgement, truth, and you can go on and on, the McCain ticket lacks it all......during this critical time, is this what america REALLY needs??? more of the same???..........easy answer

Well why the blanket Friday covering her stomach, and why hide her on the bus Saturday? Why not tell the public upfront!!!!

This has no place in politics. Leave this family alone. Having said that, McCain/Palin's policies has no place in this race. Are you kidding me? I have suffered enough. Why are we going to continue to do more of the same?

if mccain/palin win this election...god help this country

this shows that sen mc cain did'nt take the time to vett this woman, and her family. david brooks of the new york times, said that sarah palin was not ready to be vp or president but she could pick a great cheif of staff to run the country, do we want a cheif of staff to run our country if something was to happen to mc cain? mc cain is a liar if he knew her daughter was pregnant why when introduced her as vp on the stump he never mentioned it ? because he did'nt know. deception!!!!!!!! of the american people palin and mc cain.

A 'normal family' maybe. In my family, we don't get DWI's or get pregnant out of wedlock...especially at age 17. We also don't tout that we're the conservative values everyone should strive towards.

Maybe my mom should be Vice President. I mean, she's been in the PTA too!

(PS: don't forget the Palin financial conservative vote in 2006 to build the bridge to nowhere)

Hopefully the American public realizes John McCain and his campaign are making them the laughing stock of the world. This isn't meant to be mean spirited it is just a fact that is happening as it doesn't matter who you talk to they just shake their heads and laugh.

The fact that John McCain makes so many gaffes and appears so confused from time to time isn't what appears so ridiculous to people but the fact he has the support of half of the citizens of the U.S. for their President.

I am one of the few who aren't laughing as I realize if McCain gets elected your country just might not survive the next 4 years and a depression can have a serious effect on the entire world as we know it today.

Okat so the Palins are a normal family going through the trials and tribulations that face some American families. The only down side is that Governor Palin gets to do this while her entire life is spread open across the media. Let the family deal with their issues in private. Her daughter isn't running for Vice President and if you think that a parent can control the actions of their 17 year old daughter you need to pull you head out of whatever hole it is buried in.

What is forgotten here is that both Palin and her daughter have a CHOICE in their pregnancies…the very choice that Palin would deny to other women. These families are great….teenage pregancy, DUI, divorce. Just your regular Christian values, I guess. What hypocrisy. I have no problem with their choices. Everyone makes mistakes. I have a problem with their judgement on others and desire to legislate their own guilt upon others, as if that will absolve them.

What is more frightening is that McCain would make a monumental decision after meeting this person once. We have had 8 years to reap the ramifications of Bush's gut decisions. We do not need any more.

sounds like the problems we all face on a day to day basis with our children. They have to deal with the pregnancy, I think we should leave a 17 year old out of the race for office. Let's focus on the candidates

When you CHOOSE to run for the Vice Presidency... AND you CLAIM to be the "perfect" American family you forfeit your privacy.

I don't see what this has to do with her as a VP candidate. Anyone who finds this important to her candidacy is getting pretty desperate.

the media is going to dig deeper on this....they're lucky that gustav is taking over most of the coverage, but once that disappears...the media will go full circle on this

it's only been a WEEKEND and drama is all over mccain's choice...if he wanted a game-changer, he should have picked jindal, especially since jindal will come out the hero for this hurricane issue

Everyone know Johnny boy is a big lier he didn't know. But goodluck to Palin's daughter

McCain is either playing mind game with voters or must be unreliable!
Playing game .: Perhaps Palin is used to creat chaos, after which she will drop out and he will then by introducing Mitt R. Republicans jubilliate and accept him without protest.

Unreliable: If he really choose Palin without vetting, then his gambling instict must have taken over.

So one might wonder what would happen if he is CIC and would gamble with decision making similar way??? God forbid that voters leave their brains on their beds before going to vote November 4!

Oh My God!! That's all I have to say!!! Yes families are off-limits – but should we send the message that teenage pregnancy is o'k!!!

Where are our values America!

This is too much!

ATLANTA

Just heard a republican supporter compare Palin to Ronald Reagan....

wow...

Palin is a manipulative liar and Mccain continues to exhibit very poor judgment.

WHO IS THE FATHER? WHO IS THE FATHER OF THE CHILD? I WONDER IF THE DAD BEING LEFT TO PARENT FOR THE 5 KIDS WAS A GOOD IDEA AFTERALL.

IM SURE THE DAUGHTER WILL DO JUST FINE, BUT THIS IS REALLY SAD.

I GREW UP AS A BAPTIST, LEARNED ABSTINENCE AND USED CONDOMS AFTER GOING TO COLLEGE...THE DEBATE RIGHT NOW IS THAT THE US PROGRAM FOR ABSTINENCE ACTUALLY LED TO HIV SPREAD IN AFRICA INSTEAD OF ENCOURAGING PROTECTION.

MIND YOU, DICK CHENEY'S DAUGHTER IS LESBIAN TOO....IT CANT GET ANY BETTER FOR THE REPUBLICANS.

Palin should be ashamed that she knowingly put her family and her daughter's pregnancy in the spotlight. You don't get to ask for privacy when the American people are trying to decide whether you should be next in line for the presidency. If this were a Democrat the conservatives would be ripping her apart for loose morals but because its a Republican, we're supposed to praise her daughter for keeping the baby and marrying the father? What a joke.

Setting a nice example and echoing the teen pregnancy problem in this country. And people wonder why other countries want nothing to do with us and our "freedom".

Cnn you do not publish the comments that hits home...
I am waiting to hear the Evangelicals and Connservatives comments and this VP choice. If we are going condemn people who commit abortion and homosexual, then we must condemn fornication and people who break the law.

We as christain knows that ALL sins are judeged equally by God. We must stand strong against all of them, or extend mercy to all of them including the homosexual and the obortioners. We must preach against them and convert people against these acts but we cannot denounce the democratic party because they don't want to judge these acts.

When it was time for America to meet the Palin's, it's almost amusing how the Palin's had "Junior Miss" holding her sibling with an oversized baby blanket. And now the news about Daddy Palin's DWI arrest – that's sort of carrying on the GOP DWI arrest/conviction of Bush/Cheney – who have three between them.

The hypocritical Republicans ask all of us to respect Palin's daughter's privacy. This goes to the very heart of family values. It is irresponsible for a parent not to educate their children on birth control and abstinence. If Palin is the Democratic's VP, the Republicans will attack viciously the failure of a Demo female VP and the loose morality of both the mother and daughter.

So Palin's daughter got pregnant WHILE RECOVERING FROM A SEVERE CASE OF MONO!!

What the heck is wrong with their priorities?

Wow! This family will provide EXCELLENT role models for the nation's young people. Vote Republican so kids can see it's cool to get pregnant, nevermind that so many don't have supportive families to help raise their babies, and drive drunk. Awesome choice – McBush and McPreggers.

5 Children
1 with special needs
1 Pregnant
When the hell is she going to find time to help run this country?

At least tell me she stayed at a holiday Inn Express last night.

I'm sorry, my family can't relate to this! McCain is a liar, he did not know.
This is against everything I was raised to beleive. Now they are going to force these children to get married? Which will end in divorce.
This is not normal in my family, so don't try to make this situation where they can relate with average American families.

Hypocrite Code. Does the father of this child want to marry Palins daughter or are they forced into marriage due to political election? No matter how you all spin this, the republican campaign has been about hypocrisy.

Tim,

Of course we can relate to the Palin family. That doesn't mean we want them a heartbeat away from the presidency.

Okay repuglican christian evangelicals, spin this story, dare you to try….
John mccain must hate this country and he has proven that he cares much more about trying to win an election than this country by putting a woman who has 1.5 yrs experience as governor of Alaska and is a hockey mom for a gamble to pander to women and Clinton voters. No enlightened republican who has a conscience will vote for mccain, they couldn't.This should have been released by them days ago….but again we catch the Republicans in a life or cover up. What I can't wait for is what comes down in the next few weeks about abuses of power in the Reindeer state……McCain is off his rocker if he thinks this is a winning ticket!

It's seems that Senator McCain was a little too hasty in making his VP choice. He went for all shock and absolutely no sound judgement.

What does this say about Republican values – teenagers areen't supposed to have sex.

I thought "family values" included saving yourself for marriage???

Keeping family private! The McCain campaign knows better than this and certainly Palin does to. You can't keep family secrets!
Why aren't the couple married now- if this wasn't problematic?

This poor family needs a break. Kay Hutchinson would be a good back-up, and it's not too late.

They expect privacy for her daughter? Probably should have thought of that before embarking on a presidential campaign.

The statement that there was a "lengthy vetting process" is hilarious. Palin is an extremely poor choice for many reasons, none of which have anything to do with her daughter's pregnancy. McCain used very poor judgment in his VP decision.

How sad for Palin's daughter. Politics before family. Good ole republican values that puts running for office above and beyond caring for your own child's welfare. Can you even imagine being 17 years old and having not only the pregnancy happen but have your mother put you in second position to her own political interests. How sad. How selfish and thoughtless of her own daughter's best interest.

This is just plain out ridiculous! McCain meets this women one time and doesn't check her background or that of her family. This shows his lack of good judgement. As an attempt to get Hillary votes McCain has insulted women. Cleary, the facts show that Palin is not, nor will ever be Hillary Clinton. I wouldn't even take her to the dollar movie!

Sarah Palin – Still the Right Choice
In the midst of hurricanes, political fever and announcements, the media did not fail to bring up Sarah's news release that her daughter, Bristol, was five months pregnant and GOING to have the baby and marry the baby's father.

What savvy democratic candidate would do that? In the midst of the John Edwards campaign, did he even think to announce that he had, had an indiscretion with a campaign worker and been unfaithful to his wife? When asked that tough question by a myriad of reporters, what did he do? "Deny it." Where have we heard that before?

During Pres. Clinton's campaign, the reporters discovered the affair with Genifer Flowers. And it is history now that when she called him to ask, "What shall we do?" His response, "Just deny it."

Well Sarah Palin is a new breed of non-politicians that are willing to give the people the straight answers.

They are going to do the right thing! They are supporting their daughter and loving her unconditionally. They are not going to take the easy way out – abort the baby and don't mention it! Hoorah for this family!

Values Based Voter from CA

What else are they not telling us?

What kind of judgement does McCain have?

What is this ... why is it okay for Sarah Palin's daughter to be pregnant. She is 17 years old in highschool. There are too many teenagers/children having babies. When Jamie Lynn Spears, Brittany Spears, sister announced that she was pregnant our society was against it. As a matter of fact, I recall it almost ended her career as well as her mothers. What is wrong with you. Do you care that a teenager who is still living with her mother and will be a role model to children especially young girls having premarital sex and is pregnant and this is okay. We need to pay attention and uncloud our minds what happened with Jamie Spears was wrong and the rules should not change because Sarah Palin in VP nominee. It is great to be a mother and even better to be a grandmother, not at the time when a child should be focus on school and enjoying life with out adult responsibilities.

Yea they are normal, a normal dysfunctional family, and total hypocrites and liars. Forcing two teenagers to have a shotgun wedding to preserve Christian family values is vile and disgusting.

privacy?could you imagine if it had been chelsea clinton ?

Oh my GOODNESS!! the Palin family is just like mine! almost.
There is an AA Group my Dad started in Detroit. I was born before my parents were married 6 months. But I grew up just fine. What took the MEDIA so long to locate these facts?

They are just straight up lying. They wouldn't have picked her knowing that her daughter was pregnant. I bet she won't be nominated this week. They probably will end up picking Romney or Huckabee or someone else.

this is a non issue. teenagers are notorios for this thing. big deal. when will the dems learn that the right to choose includes choosing to keep the baby, put the baby up for adoption, or abortion. when will people realize that the only person who has to chose is the mother. and the mother should choose based on her personal belief. dems should know that the right to choose does not always lead to abortion.

Shame on Sarah Palin....and shame on John McCain!

Ms. Palin should be terribly ashamed of herself for thinking more about her own ambitions than on her daughter's needs at this time. This young lady may have committed an adult act, and may be making some adult decisions, but she is still a CHILD, and now her mother has exposed her daughter's personal life to the ENTIRE WORLD....and even worse, the MEDIA. Palin should never have considered the VP position, knowing what kind of negative publicity this would expose her daughter to. Even more, what kind of effect is it going to have on the daughter when the GOP loses the election, maybe because of their personal situation??? Shame on you, Sarah Palin.........shame............

AND SHAME ON JOHN MCCAIN FOR EVEN LETTING THIS HAPPEN........you once again prove just exactly how out of touch with the real world that you are!

you mean more like she told him in the second conversation they ever had... which just happened to be last week.

OMG.. this is what we want in a VP? A typical family? I don't think so. This is NOT a typical family. This is a disaster.

Sure she told him. I believe that. Just like I believe in the tooth fairy.

Good for John McCain. He is as human as I have always believed him to be. He is the maverick he seemed to be until he started running for President a second time.

All the news regarding Sarah Palin and her family simply proves they are normal like the rest of us. Will the Moral Majority or Focus on the Family, or Rush Limbaugh (ha ha) feel the same way?

It simply proves we should not vote for a party simply because they claim "family value" or " moral" superiority. We should vote for a person based on what we believe and how he or she can accomplish those goals.

We should not slam someone for prior alchohol use or prior drug use, or prior affairs, or how their children have turned out.

MCCAIN SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF HIMSELF................

NOW EVERYBODY LET'S WAIT FOR PALIN TO DROP OUT........

THIS WAS THE PLAN FROM THE DOOR.

DON'T BE FOOLED

OBAMA/BIDEN 08

Wow. Maybe John McCain should adopt Madonna's old hit "Papa don't Preach" as his new campaign song.

Love that "good judgment" John.

Liar. Lengthy vetting process? Absolute lies.

I wish Bristol Palin well, and hope the press will leave her alone.
Lot's of teens make mistakes. This is why I believe that abstinence only programs are failures. We need better sex education for kids, and condoms available in the High Schools. Thank God that this young woman is only pregnant. She could have been infected with a serious STD.

I hope that those politicians who support "abstinence only " funding will reconsider – this should be the focus of the debate, not Bristol Palin.

It is easy to keep an unwanted child when your parents are millionaires.

Everybody makes mistakes.

The Vice President's position is a round the clock job. Palin has 5 children and will soon be a grandma. She has a son leaving for Iraq, a special needs child and a 17 year old daughter that's pregnant. Obviously, her family's needs should be her top priority at this time. FAMILY should always be top priority. With all the stress she's apparently under, she wouldn't be able to handle the Vice Presidency at this time. She should gracefully step down.

So, according to CNN, this 5-month old fetus is a "baby?"

Are you all explicitly siding with the Republicans on abortion, or just reporting the obvious?

Obama says Palin's family (especially the chidren) are off limits and I agree completely.

Obama/Biden '08

Isn't that wonderful? Dragging a 17 year old girl through the mud in the national media spotlight. What a way to go for decision making and for being a good parent. What is more important to a parent? To be a good parent or try to change the world? As a mom I will take the first over the latter. Charity begins at home.

Palin supports abstinence education but her daughter is a 17 year ol mother? Why didn't she tell her daughter about abstinence?

This woman is cannon fodder for the Democrats. McCain must be unconciously setting the Republicans up for the loss.

Goes again to McCain's judgement! I wonder what else will come up before she is nominated? Is the religious right still happy?

I'm sorry CNN. I'm confused. Who's running as a Vice Presidential candidate? Bristol Palin of Todd Palin? Considering the recent, irrelevant articles published about Sarah Palin's husband and seventeen year old daughter it's difficult to tell.

This proves to me that Gov. Palin isn't successfully balancing her work and life. Those children need their mother. There is no telling how long this child has been sexually active. I have no respect for women who put their career before their family. Too me Gov. Palin has failed at being a mother. This woman should raise her children and leave politics alone.

Palin sounds like a train wreck for the GOP.

DON'T BE FOOLED BY THIS REPUBLICAN GAME.......

MCCAIN NEVER HAD IN INTENTION TO KEEP HER AS HIS RUNNING MATE.......HE KNEW THE NEWS WOULD LEAK OUT ABOUT YOUNG PALIN .......WHAT BETTER REASON FOR A MOTHER TO BOW OUT.......

SO NOW HE LOOKS LIKE A MAVERICK BECAUSE HE IS THE FIRST REPUBLICAN TO CHOOSE A WOMEN .......PLEASE

OK MR MCCAIN YOU CREATED NEWS AFTER OBAMA'S GREAT SPEECH ......BIG DEAL

YOU MR MCCAIN ARE A SORRY EXCUSE FOR A POTENTIAL PRESIDENT.........

YOUR CAMPAIGN WAS DEAD THEN AND NOW WE CAN BURY YOU.

THANKS FOR YOUR LOVE OF COUNTRY........

OBAMA/BIDEN 08

This woman is so unqualified on so many levels. There is too much at stake in this country. It DOES NOT MATTER what is going on in her personal life. Who cares?? Yes, she is a hypocrite, but so are we to continue down this shameful path of personal attack. She has no foreign policy experience, no significant governing experience, and is a frightening choice for the Vice Presidency. Stay focused on the issues. Obama/Biden. For the change America needs.

Go ahead you REPs. Damage control this all you want, we as parents know this is a disgrace to a family. Any family, let alone the family of the VP. Now the question is, when was her pregnancy made known? It could had been too late to get an abortion, so she had to keep the baby, she had no choice. Believe you me, if her pregnancy had been known in its earliest stage, she would had aborted it. Look this is the Governor's daughter, and Sarah is no angle that came down from heaven, she would had done what many parents had secretly done. Pro-life families as well. It's a different story when its your own 17 year daughter facing this crisis. A life altering crisis. Abortion is alive and well., and such will be some time or another called upon to spare a child's future. I don't paint myself into a corner.

"This is a sad day for conservatives. Its a slap in the face. McCain had only talked to her once before – great…….! My mother always told us to take our time and learn someone's character before opening our lives to them. My mother clearly has superior judgement to McCain."

Not only is a sad day and a slapped in the face, but they punched me in the eye! And by the way, I read someone on a comment that said, what conservative credentials does she have than the Huckster or Mitt has than her. You know what I say?? This isn't about the Huckster or Mitt or anyone else, this is about her and her only...

An empathetic Michelle Obama reached out to the young 17-year expecting child, by offering her a place to stay when the Obama/Biden ticket moves into the White House. Bristol Palin will be able to take "FAMILY VALUES" courses taught by Michelle Obama, and she can bring her mother to check on the new grandbaby.

Everybody makes mistakes. It is when we judge others that we do a real misjustice. Get over it America. How many times have you lied? How many times have you put your family aside to make money? You are just as bad. Its refreshing to have someone leading our country who is not afraid to admit to their mistakes and have unconditional love for their family.

Time to fire both john mcsucker and her

That is an out and out lie. A story in the Huffington Post a few days ago showed Sara Palin stating her daughter had Mono. McCain didn't know anything about this issue. Why don't the holier than thou Rebublican Party just stick to the truth then their failing memories won't betray them to the public.

That's great , so Mccain and Palin both decided it was a good thing to thrust an unwed pregnant teenager into the national media spotlight for the sake of an election. Bad decisions by both candidates.

The Palins are a normal family. We can all relate to their trials and tribulations. Now let's leave them alone.

Sarah can't even manage her own home. How is she going to manage the VP position? A Christian can't vote for Palin.

Teenage pregnancy out of wedlock.

You right wing conservatives are full of crap!!!!!!!

Obama said himself, his mother was 18 when she had him. Had she not gone through with her pregnancy, your messiah would not exist...

This is news???? Hussein Nobama is friends with a convicted terrorist. Both of them hate the U. S. and like destroying it. Proven fact!

So much for abstinence only programs.

Wow ! And the Republicans have the GALL to lecture Democrats on "morals" and family values.